Sharks Could Be in Hot Water / Out of playoffs, Canucks may make trouble for San Jose

By Tony Cooper, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Friday, April 2, 1999

1999-04-02 04:00:00 PDT Vancouver, British Columbia -- The 1998-99 season has been nothing short of a disaster for the Vancouver Canucks. A 6-5 loss against Toronto on Wednesday mathematically dispatched the Canucks from any playoff possibilities, so they will be officially playing out the string from here on in. And that's exactly why they could be trouble.

Vancouver takes on the Sharks in a home-and-home series -- in B.C. tonight and in San Jose tomorrow night -- and the two games that are critical to the Sharks. While winning both isn't absolutely necessary, it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea, with Edmonton and Calgary breathing down San Jose's necks for a playoff berth.

Not having any postseason aspirations of their own, the Canucks would love nothing more than playing spoiler, dragging someone else down with them.

"Vancouver is playing for jobs next year," said Sharks defenseman Jeff Norton. "It's a different scenario to those guys. Guys are fighting for their livelihood up there. We've got to be ready."

Andy Sutton of the Sharks, tries to get around Randy McKay of the New
Jersey Devils during the Sharks' 3-1 victory over the Devils on Monday. Chronicle Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez

Andy Sutton of the Sharks, tries to get around Randy McKay of the New
Jersey Devils during the Sharks' 3-1 victory over the Devils on Monday. Chronicle Photo by Carlos Avila Gonzalez

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Edmonton's Ryan Smith went airborne after an attempted hit against the Sharks' Ron Stern in the Oilers' victory last Sunday in Edmonton, Alberta. AP Photo by Brendon Dlouhy

Edmonton's Ryan Smith went airborne after an attempted hit against the Sharks' Ron Stern in the Oilers' victory last Sunday in Edmonton, Alberta. AP Photo by Brendon Dlouhy

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Sharks Could Be in Hot Water / Out of playoffs, Canucks may make trouble for San Jose

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Despite their lowly stature, the Canucks, who have lost seven of their last nine and are at the bottom of the Northwest Division, haven't been a soft touch to the Sharks. San Jose eked out a 4-3 win at GM Place on March 3; two games in San Jose resulted in a 2-0 Shark win and a 1-1 tie.

The Sharks have lost their last two and didn't play particularly well in either. They're not in bad shape regarding playoff positioning, but that could change quickly, especially if they mess up in this doubleheader against one of the sorriest teams in the NHL.

"We're not in it," said Sharks goalie Mike Vernon. "If we look in the standings, we don't see a star next to our names (indicating a clinched playoff berth). Right now, we have to win our share of games."

Vancouver hasn't been seeing victory more frequently since coach Marc Crawford replaced the fired Mike Keenan in February. The Canucks are 7-18-5 under Crawford, the ex-Avalanche boss, who is molding the Canucks into what he wants, with an eye on next year. It's assured that he's on the lookout for laggards who merely want to collect a check. As Norton alluded to, those types will be eventually be seeking employment elsewhere.

"I've tried to add more structure and play with a little bit more purpose offensively and defensively," Crawford said. "Our record would have been better if we had adapted quicker. We didn't adapt, and it cost us early. We have to continue to build on what we've got here."

The Sharks will be aiming to delay that process by two games. NOTES: Sharks defenseman Andrei Zyuzin, suspended and dropped from the roster after skipping the club on March 19, was interviewed on Canadian TV the other day with his new representative, Vitaly Shevchenko, by his side. Zyuzin said, "I want to tell (general manager) Dean Lombardi and (coach) Darryl Sutter I'm not going back to San Jose because they didn't do me right in my situation. I'm not going back to the San Jose Sharks team."

Shevchenko remains uncertified as an agent by the NHL players union, so the Sharks are unable to contact him. He has apparently applied for recertification. The TV interview with Zyuzin took place in Vancouver, where Shevchenko has had business ties.